CLEVELAND, Ohio – You have to hand it to the folks coordinating music for fans at Progressive Field: They maintain an impressive catalog cutting across multiple genres.
Interestingly, six of the most ubiquitous songs heard at the ballpark are anything but new.
Here’s a look at the songs:
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Jack Norworth (lyrics), Albert Von Tilzer (music), 1908: The interesting thing here is that at the time he wrote the song, Norworth and Von Tilzer had never been to a baseball game. But thanks to his imagination, we learn about baseball mad Katie Casey. Incidentally, the song itself is in the public domain, though specific renditions might remain under copyright protection. Remember: “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back.” It’s baseball’s national anthem.
God Bless America
Irving Berlin, 1918: Berlin was born in Russia and served in the U.S. Army. He once said about this song, which was released after World War I started: “It’s not a patriotic song, but an expression of gratitude for what this country has done for its citizens, of what home really means.” In 1938, Kate Smith recorded it for her radio show. That version has become iconic. Postscript from a Kennedy Center story on the song: “When it came to ‘God Bless America,’ Irving Berlin and Kate Smith put their money where their mouths were. They donated all the royalties from the hit song to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America through the God Bless America Foundation.”
Hang on Sloopy
Wes Farrell and Bert Berns, 1964: The song associated with Ohio State University was a No. 1 hit for the McCoys in 1965, though it had been recorded previously. It’s an automatic sing-along. An Ohio State student, John Tatgenhorst, heard the song at the Ohio State Fair not long after it was released and suggested it could make for marching-band fodder. He got the go-ahead, the band played it, and we’re still hearing it today – in Cleveland as well as Columbus.
Cleveland Rocks
Ian Hunter, 1977/1979: Hunter wrote it in 1977 as “England Rocks” but tweaked it and released it in 1979 with its new title. Those of a certain age associate it with “The Drew Carey Show” (1995-2004). The show’s namesake was born in Cleveland in 1958. Today, sports fans know it means the Cavaliers have won at Rocket Arena or the Guardians gained the W in Progressive Field.
The Final Countdown
Europe, 1986: Joey Tempest of the Swedish metal/hard rock band wrote this song for the group’s third album. It became a huge hit, typical of bombastic synth sounds of the 1980s, and is still featured in sports venues. A snippet of the song is played as the Guardians are about to close out a home game. Next year: Happy 40 years, Joey.
Jump Around
House of Pain, 1992: The most recent song of the bunch, the energetic hop-hop tune segued after “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” Wednesday right before the Guardians came to bat in the seventh. The song has become synonymous with University of Wisconsin football ever since a homecoming game against Purdue on Oct. 10, 1998. It remains a staple at Badger games where fans do indeed jump around. “So get out your seat,” as the song says, “and jump around.”
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